American Peasant

Product Description

by Christopher Schwarz

”American Peasant”is an introduction to a style of furniture and decoration that is almost unheard of in the Americas. Built primarily with tongues, grooves and pegs, the furniture is frequently engraved with geometric symbols that beautify the piece and protect its owner.

With this book, you will learn to build 10 simple pieces using common tools and whatever lumber is on hand. And you’ll learn to engrave the pieces using nothing more than a cheap craft knife and a vinyl flooring cutter. (Lost Art Presswere so thrilled with this tool that theynow make atheir version of it.)

In addition to furniture making, ”American Peasant”delves into other areas of the craft that will make you a more independent woodworker. Learn to make your own commercial grade glueusing only three ingredients (food-grade gelatin, salt and water), all of which you can find at the grocery store. The glue is strong, reversible and non-toxic (it’s edible, though Lost Art Pressdon’t recommend eating it).

You can make your own finish using beeswax, linseed oil and citrus solvent. This non toxic finish is easy to apply and to repair. Plus, it looks better with age and use.

Finally, you’ll learn the language of the engravings, which come from Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and the UK. These geometric engravings can protect a loved one from sickness, guard your valuables and grant good fortune to others (there are no negative engravings or spells in this book).

”American Peasant”might change the furniture you build. It might change how you build and finish it. And it might change your mind about the role of the handmade objects in your life.

About the Physical Book

”American Peasant”is 6”x 9”and is printed in Tennessee on #70 matte coated paper on a Japanese built sheet fed printing press. (This is an offset printing press that’s the size of a house – not a digital copier.) The pages are folded into signatures, sewn, glued and reinforced with fibre based tape to create a permanent binding. Lost Art Pressbooks regularly survive floods and attacks by dogs and toddlers.

The 312 page interior is then attached to heavy cotton covered boards using a thick paper hinge. The cover and spine are adorned with a two colour foil die stamp. The image is physically stamped into the cloth and the board, giving the cover a texture you won’t get from modern digital books.

The book is designed to be used – hard – and survive more than a century of use.

Table of Contents

Forewordvii

1. Some Lovely Filth Down ’Ere1
2. The Peasant’s Workshop7
3. On Wood & Joinery17
4. Tongue & Groove Planes25
5. Trenails & Iron Nails39
6. Grocery Store Glue51
7. Finishes: How to Make & Apply Them63
8. A Walk Around the Symbolic Block75
9. Some Common Symbols & Spells in Europe85
10. Sharpen & Use Engraving Tools105
11. Good Work, at Speed123
12. Pristolnic127
13. Wall Rack139
14. High Carpathian Wall Cabinet149
15. Plate Rack163
16. Wall Cupboard173
17. Small Coffer187
18. Large Coffer197
19. Cupboard219
20. Peasant Chair237
21. The Urban Peasants257

Appendix 1: Other Peasants263
Appendix 2: Boarded Tool Chest279
Acknowledgments297
Bibliography299

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